RCNews
February 3

Birthdays:  February 3, Don Irvin, Elaine Albright; February 4, Earl Brenner, Darian Rogers; February 5, Haily Gilbert, Rhonda Allen, Austin Pfannenstiel; February 6, Reba Baker; February 7, Jill Wierman, Pat Derr, Adam North, Mamie Rogers; April 9, Austin Goodard.
 
Anniversary:  February 6, Dean and Louann Birdsong
 
Marty Mills celebrated the big 50 with ice cream and cake at his home on Saturday evening. Tina and Addie joined in the celebration.
 
Addie Mills visited with Lee, Donna, Trent, Kelly and Andy Hansen at Hays on Sunday. She also went to Gorham to spend some time with Danny and Marilyn Mills.
 
Jack Klee returned to his apartment at Centennial Towers on Saturday. He had spent a week at the Vagabond Motel, courtesy of the Red Cross, due to water damage in his apartment following the fire on January 13th. Addie Mills visited him on Sunday afternoon.
 
Rev. Larry Brock and wife, Denise of Longford, Kansas joined Addie Mills, Bruce and Sue Davis for lunch at Tracy’s in LaCrosse on Tuesday.
 
 Notes from our east coast connections report that in NC there was hardly any snow and this w/e temperatures were supposed to be in the 60s; from VA they received the light end of the snow. The area north and west received 11”. We are glad they didn’t get more. I’m sure Tom Rues has more than enough in Hartford.
Constitution Hall director Tim Rues wrapped a cloak of historic authenticity Thursday around the sesquicentennial meeting of the Kansas Supreme Court in the Statehouse. It was the first time since 1978 the state's highest court convened for oral arguments in the former chamber, a large room restored to turn-of-the-century sensibility with six massive chandeliers and portraits of court members.
Our sympathy to the family of Edward D. Filbert, 79 of Hutchinson.  He was born April 30, 1931 near Brownell to Alexander and Katherine Gross Filbert.  He served in the Air Force and was Airman of the Year at March AFB, Riverside, Calif. He was a teacher and coach.  He married Ruth Hair June 18, 1955 in Ness City.  She survies.  Other survivors are sons, David and Daniel, brother Duane Filbert, sisters Mary Ann Yaeger and Judy Boor.  Burial was at the Ness City Cemetery.
 
Sister Rose Moos, sister of St. Joseph, Concordia, was featured in The Messenger in their January issue.  She taught in schools in Kansas, New Mexico and Nebraska.  At present she is involved with Motherhouse ministry, sewing for sisters.  She is a cousin of Francis Zeller.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Donald Holopirek, 72, Timken, who died January 25, 2011 at Hutchinson.  He was the son of Ralph and Blanche Smrcka Holopirek born on July 27, 1938.  He married Frances Herrman November 25, 1965 in Timken.  He is the uncle of Marge Moran.  Donnie always had a smile for everyone. 
 
Al and Judy Hugh celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Boondocks with Ben Thompson and Carolyn Thompson.  The Hughs plan a trip to Colorado.
 
Rodeo History Item:  Paulette Zeller drew a picture of the McCracken Hotel which was made into a stamp by the Post Office to hand cancel letters in honor of the Centennial.  A Centennial quilt was sewn by McCrackenites for a raffle.  A history book of McCracken was put together using microfilm of the McCracken Enterprise and Rush County Newspapers.
 
Kansas History Tidbits:  On January 29, 1861, President James Buchanan signed the bill that admitted Kansas into the Union as a free state, the 34th state in the Union.  In 1804 and 1806 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the Independence Creek Area when they went up the Missouri River on their historic journey through the Louisiana Purchase.  1821 William Becknell, a Missouri trader, made a well-known Indian route famous as the Santa Fe Trail. (from The Explorer, January 2011)
 
McCracken History Notes:
February 1911
 
Joe McGaughey is using a crutch to get around.  He was run over by a wagon laoded with corn and is pretty well used up.
 
Mr. A. C. Ellenberger, cashier of the Citizens State Bank, tendered his resignation to the directors.  The resignation was accepted and the board elected Mr. George W. Underhill as cashier.  Mr. Underhill is a graduate of Baker University and has been employed the last six months by the People's State Bank at Baldwin.
 
February 1941
The St. Mary's Activity Club met at the home of Mrs. J. P. Moran Thursday and started working on a red and white pieced quilt.  The members present were Mrs. Mary Meehan, Mrs. A. F. Marak, Mrs. Emma Start, Mrs. G. W. Klug and daughter, Geraldine Louise and Mrs. W. P. Moran.
 
The McCracken Grade midgets won their game over Bison.  The crowd which attended got quite a thrill when Johnnie Elmore and Wilfred Bieker scored from the field as did Jimmie Higgins.  The ball stealing and speed of Willard Thompson was phenomenal.
 
February 1961
First baby honors in 1961 go to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Skillett, LaCrose.  The baby, a girl, weighed 5 lbs 9-l/2 ounces was was delivered by Dr. J. H. Baker, January 6, 1961.  She has been named Cheryle Denise.
 
Mrs. Dight House and daughter, Martha House, returned home Friday from the Hadley Memorial hospital at Hays.
 
February 1981
Raven Schwindt was crowned Queen and Jeff McCormick King at the basketball Homecoming on Tuieday.  Attendants were Laura Casey, Kelly McKinney, Chris Jones and Neal Jacobs.  Flower girl was Arlene Mills and crown bearer Bobby Bearly.
 
Cadette Girl Scout Troop 204 attended the International Fair at Ft. Hays on Saturday.  One of the speakers from Cyprus was Diana Constantinides.